Pregnancy and Private Medical Insurance

Traditionally in the UK, private health insurance does not cover pregnancy. The everyday care and monitoring of pregnant women and their babies is carried out through NHS services. You can of course opt to go private and pay for the services of a midwife and obstetrician should you wish. However there is a limited provision for care in pregnancy that is provided by some health insurance policies.

NHS
Currently NHS antenatal care is excellent. Pregnant women have regular appointments with their GP and midwife and are offered several tests to ascertain their own and their babies health. Women also have scans at the hospital and regular check ups after the baby is born. There is also a Health in Pregnancy grant, which is worth £190 and can be applied for through forms given by GPs and midwives. This is available to all pregnant women and is not means tested.

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE
In terms of provision for pregnancy in health insurance policies it is important to note that each policy is different and is you are planning a pregnancy it is important to check the provision in your policy. Some policies do provide any cover for pregnancy related issues. If you are planning a baby however it may be well worth checking out the best health insurance cover for pregnancy.

AXA PPP Healthcare, for example, state that they do not pay for 'any costs related to pregnancy or childbirth or for treatment of a medical condition relating to pregnancy or childbirth...'

Norwich Union cover some complications of pregnancy and childbirth 'provided the mother has been on the policy for at least 10 months. They also provide a cash benefit of £100 on the birth of each child if you go free through the NHS. They also cover certain obstetric procedures including: miscarriage, hydatidiform mole, still birth, retained placenta, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, obstetric diabetes, caesarean sections (in certain circumstances) and ectopic pregnancies. It is important to note that their policy document states that these things will be 'considered for cover.'

Standard Life offer a more comprehensive level of cover in their top level policy, Primecare Gold. After two years of membership they include private consultations and tests as long as you have a normal pregnancy. This is capped at £3,000 or alternatively you can have £100 cash benefit on the birth of each child if you have not used this benefit. You are also covered for some complications of pregnancy.

PruHealth also offers a £100 cash benefit on the birth of each child but only covers you for ectopic pregnancy, hydatidiform mole, post partum haemorrhage, miscarriage, retained placenta and stillbirth.


PRIVATE
Most private hospitals do not have a full pregnancy and birth service. They are mainly restricted to the London area. If you do opt for paying privately the average costs are as follows:

Birth
Normal birth: £2,880
Caesarian (and care for 24hrs after): £3,790
Obstetrician Consultant: £3,000 - £4,000

Untrasound
£200 - £300

Chronic Villus Sampling Test
£400

Private Midwife for whole pregnancy
£4,000 - £5,000

In summary, the NHS is available for free and excellent antenatal treatment. Many private medical insurance companies provide no cover for any maternity related treatments. However within those that do there is a wide range of different things on offer. Most companies offer £100 cash back with the birth of each child and most cover only complications of pregnancy and birth. Alternatively you can go privately. This is a very expensive option and there are not many hospitals which cater for totally private maternity care and birth.